The BBC reports that the part of the brain used by people who can "see like a bat" has been identified by researchers in Canada. Some blind people have learned to echolocate by making clicking noises and listening to the returning echoes. A study of two such people, published in PLoS ONE, showed a part of the brain usually associated with sight was activated when listening to echoes.

Posted: 26/05/2011

On Thursday we staged the fourth Celebrity Try & Score quiz night in association with Aberdeen Asset Management, where 350 people had their sporting knowledge tested amidst the company of a host of sporting celebs. We were graced by the presence of the likes of Gavin Hastings, Steven Pressley, Gregor Townsend, Neil McCann, Kenny Milne, Sandy Clark and many more and the event was hosted by Scott Wilson. Rebus author Ian Rankin and Hour presenter Stephen Jardine were there too and were in sparkling form.

Posted: 21/05/2011

The voting is over and we are very proud to have been shortlisted for the Education Blog Awards 2011 in the Whole School Blogsite of the Year. According to the site thousands of votes were cast for the 300+ nominated sites so we are now very honoured to be displaying our shortlisted badge. A big thank you to everyone who has voted. Fingers crossed for the judges decision – winners will be announced at the beginning of June.

Posted: 17/05/2011

Lauren, a student at The Royal Blind School, had one of her wishes come true recently when she met Kylie Minogue back stage at her concert in Glasgow. Her special day began as she was whisked off by Make-A-Wish in a limousine to Girlz Night, a popular beauty salon in Glasgow, where she was pampered before finally meeting her pop idol at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow and enjoying the live concert afterwards.

Posted: 13/05/2011

Congratulations to former Royal Blind School pupil Dennis Robertson who has just been elected as MSP for West Aberdeen. He will be the first blind MSP at Holyrood. Dennis claimed victory for the SNP in Aberdeenshire West with a majority of over 4000, taking the seat from LibDem chief whip Mike Rumbles. He dedicated his victory to his daughter Caroline, who passed away in February, saying: “I’d like to thank my wife Fiona and my daughter Caroline who passed away in February. I hope I’ve made my daughter proud.

Posted: 06/05/2011

We know we have, so much so that Ally in the office has spent most of April on the Golf Course apart from his brief spell as a television start (2 minutes 43 seconds to be exact). You would think with all that practise his game would have improved but alas in his case practice really doesn’t make perfect.